Franco-American Alliance

In France, enthusiasm for the American cause was high: the French
intellectual world was itself in revolt against feudalism and
privilege. However, the Crown lent its support to the colonies
for geopolitical rather than ideological reasons: the French
government had been eager for reprisal against Britain ever since
France's defeat in 1763. To further the American cause, Benjamin
Franklin was sent to Paris in 1776. His wit, guile and intellect
soon made their presence felt in the French capital, and played a
major role in winning French assistance.

France began providing aid to the colonies in May 1776, when it
sent 14 ships with war supplies to America. In fact, most of the
gun powder used by the American armies came from France. After
Britain's defeat at Saratoga, France saw an opportunity to
seriously weaken its ancient enemy and restore the balance of
power that had been upset by the Seven Years' War (the French and
Indian War). On February 6, 1778, America and France signed a
Treaty of Amity and Commerce, in which France recognized America
and offered trade concessions. They also signed a Treaty of
Alliance, which stipulated that if France entered the war,
neither country would lay down its arms until America won its
independence, that neither would conclude peace with Britain
without the consent of the other, and that each guaranteed the
other's possessions in America. This was the only bilateral
defense treaty signed by the United States or its predecessors
until 1949.

The Franco-American alliance soon broadened the conflict. In June
1778 British ships fired on French vessels, and the two countries
went to war. In 1779 Spain, hoping to reacquire territories taken
by Britain in the Seven Years' War, entered the conflict on the
side of France, but not as an ally of the Americans. In 1780
Britain declared war on the Dutch, who had continued to trade
with the Americans. The combination of these European powers,
with France in the lead, was a far greater threat to Britain than
the American colonies standing alone.